A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Chapter 168

"Could you keep it down a bit? Aren't you worried about embarrassing yourself? Calliope, can't you get a handle on your friends?" Valerian shot an annoyed glance at Calliope. "Look at the kind of people you're hanging out with."

"What kind of people?" Archie stood up, his eyes locking onto Valerian's with a steely gaze and a sarcastic smile. "Mr. Valerian, are you implying I'm one of those kinds of people?"

Uriah and Mavis had wandered over without anyone noticing, and now Uriah's gaze was intense, carrying a palpable authority.

Valerian knew better than to cross someone like Uriah, so he quickly plastered on a grin. "Oh, no, Mr. Stewart. I didn't mean you."

"Really? Because you did mention Callie's friends, didn't you? And it just so happens that I'm one of them," Uriah replied with a casual air.

Valerian's face twisted uncomfortably.

"And wouldn't you know it, my apprentice is also one of those friends you're talking about." Uriah stepped forward. "So, do you have a problem with us?"

"No!" Valerian's face flushed with embarrassment and frustration, leaving him flustered and resigned. He threw one last glare at Calliope before stalking off with Ulysses.

and said

nodded, "If there's any trouble,

even getting someone as busy as Uriah to look out

She used to put up with it all for the sake of a few scraps of familial affection. But having faced death once, she understood it wasn't worth it. She cast a detached glance in Lisette's direction. Once, she had longed for parents who cherished her how they cherished Lisette. Unfortunately, her biological parents were doting on their daughter, but it

attention, with Valerian and the others

quietly

began coaxing Lisette to play a piano piece for

at her birthday party, Zelda would

course, every year, Calliope

out of sight. In Zelda's eyes, Calliope lacked presentable talents and had a knack

she weren't

biologically hers, Zelda wouldn't

bother with a

hesitation, Lisette couldn't refuse the crowd's enthusiasm